3. a) In Act 2, how does Macbeth attempt to gain Banquo's support? How does Banquo respond?
Macbeth first attempts to gain Banquo's support by using a form of flattery, he under-minds his success of the King's visit so Banquo thinks that he is a modest person. Making it look like Macbeth is not the greedy, over-ambitious person he really is. He then makes Banquo think that he is not interested in the witches, making it look like he does not believe the witch's visions, so therefor does not want to be King. It puts him in a good spot when he says this, but Banquo does not wholly believe this sceme he is trying to pull off. He some what suspects that Macbeth has something up his sleeve. Banquo's beliefs are confirmed when Macbeth says, "If you shall cleave to my consent, when t'is, It shall make honour for you.". He then one hundred percent knows that Macbeth is up to something and replies with this, "So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keep my bosom franchised and alliance clear, I shall be counsell'd.", meaning that as long as he can keep a clear conscience he will do what Macbeth wants. He is in a way telling Macbeth that he will not do anything against the King or his nobles to make him King.
b) Compare how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth react to the King's murder. Why are they so different in their response?
Macbeth pretends to be clueless and completely surprised when Macduff walks into the room and sees Duncan murdered. He then proceeds to overplay the divested role of a family member, good friend, and subject. Lady Macbeth acts horrified at the deed but not at the fact that the king is dead, but acts disgusted by the fact that it happened under her roof. Woman in that time period were fragile and dainty, so in our minds majority of the Woman would break down and cry no matter who was killed, not put the concern of her house over those who were killed. The responses were so different because in order to pull it off Macbeth had to act angry and shocked about it due to the fact that he is a male, and Lady Macbeth had to act sad about it even though she did not act that way at all.
c) In Act 1, Duncan is established as King. What kind of King is he, based upon how he interacts with his thanes? Be specific and give references where possible.
In act one, scene two, after the battle is over Duncan talks with a Captain and then Ross. Ross tells the King that the Thane of Cawdor is a traitor and that Macbeth beat the rebels for him, the King then proceeds to quickly decide that the Thane of Cawdor will die and that his title will go to the loyal Macbeth. You can clearly see in this scene that Duncan is the type of King that rewards loyal subjects generously, but punishes rebels harshly, making him a good King in this sense.
In act one, scene four Duncan says the line, "There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.", showing that he is not as naive has you would think he is. He then starts talking with Macbeth and tells him that the title Thane of Cawdor is not large enough to pay for the great deeds he has done, i.e defeating the rebels. He praises him highly and then announces that his son Malcolm will be his successor, making Macbeth angry at Duncan and sort of confused about the witch's conversation with him. Duncan does not sense Macbeth's frustration when he asks to leave right away making him look naive despite his previous line. So this scene kind of contradicts itself.
In act one, scene six Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle for his royal visit, the scene first opens with Duncan approaching the castle with Banquo. The King says how pleasant the castle is, and then proceeds to the castle yard to meet Lady Macbeth. She puts on her poker face and greets him kindly. Duncan makes himself look even more naive because he does not note Lady Macbeth's overly happy facade and overly grateful attitude towards him. But this scene also shows that he gets along with his royal thanes well and that he has a very friendly personality.
So there for, Duncan is a good, harsh, naive, friendly King.
d) After reading his letter, how does Lady Macbeth describe her husband? Why do you think she describes him this way?
Lady Macbeth describes her husband as weak, kind, and womanly. After reading the letter Lady Macbeth says " and shalt be what thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.". This meaning, You shall be what you were promised. Yet I fear that your nature is to full of the milk of human kindness to take the quickest opportunity. You want to be great, you do not lack the ambition but lack the evil abilities to complete the act. Lady Macbeth is calling her husband good and naive in a way, she thinks that he is naive in the sense that Macbeth believes he can become King, without being a direct heir and without doing something evil to get it. She describes him this way because she wants to be the one to get this power they want. Lady Macbeth desires to be a strong and willful like a man, instead of weak and defenseless like nature typically expects her to be like. So if she is the one to think up a plot to steal the throne and she is the one to take charge in this situation then her and Macbeth would switch roles, in the sense that she is the one making decisions and he is the one who is just doing what he is told.
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